OWEN SUSKIND
The Protector of Sidekicks
BY CONNER CUMMINGS
Owen: A sidekick is a secondary character
that helps the hero fulfill his or her destiny and
often provide comic relief. Protecting them?
You keep them in a
safe place. You make
sure to include them.
Even if you feel you’re
the hero, you think
about what’s best for
the sidekick. After all,
they’re there to help
you fulfill your destiny.
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I
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ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
the songs and imitate the characters and dialog from the movies. And it makes me excited,
which makes me flap my arms, jump high and
dance. But most importantly, Disney puts a
smile on both of our faces.
Editor’s Note: Owen has his own YouTube Channel
where he showcases hard-to-find Disney collectibles,
gives tours of his own collections, provides guest
interviews and more. Check it out!
----Conner: You say you are the Protector of
Sidekicks—no sidekick gets left behind. What is
a sidekick? What do you do to protect a sidekick?
-----
“I think we’re all really
sidekicks, searching within
ourselves for the qualities of
the hero.”
Conner: What character do you most identify
with now?
am honored to interview Owen because I
read his book, I have seen him on TV and
because we have so very much in common. Disney has transported both of us
into another world. Owen is in Neverland
from Peter Pan, and I am in Arendelle from
Frozen. And we also both learned life lessons
from each of the films. For instance, in Beauty
and the Beast, Owen learned that true beauty
comes from within and not from outward appearances. He learned to be true to himself.
I learned the same thing from the movie and
that we have to look deep inside ourselves for
who we really are. Disney makes Owen happy.
This ‘happy’ makes him want to sing along to
Tonight” is playing about—let me see—about
four nights a week.
Owen: How about three: Iago (from Aladdin),
Zazu (from Lion King) and Lucky Jack (from
Home on the Range). Why I relate to them is
because Zazu is a very proper adviser, and I
advise, sometimes, my friends. He’s also protective of others, like I am. Lucky Jack is wacky
and crusty, and he’s guideful (that’s a word I
invented for a traveler who guides others on
their journeys). That’s like me. All three are
funny, and I’m developing my sense of humor. Iago is the more complicated one because
he’s the evil sidekick to the villain Jafar, but he
provides comic relief, unlike most villain sidekicks, and anyone with a sense of humor has to
have some goodness in them. I’ve written a few
script revisions where Iago turns to good and
advances the plot, helping Aladdin fulfill his
destiny. And I believe all people can be turned
to good.
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Conner: What is in your “tool
kit” that helps you each year as
your number age grows and you
learn to believe in yourself?
Owen: To take more responsibility of my own, each year. The
scene in Lion King where Simba
sees Mufasa’s magic ghost in the
nighttime sky and Mufasa says,
“Remember who you are. You are my son and
the one true king.” It’s hard sometimes to remember who you are and what you’re capable
of. That’s because sometimes other people don’t
see it—the greatness you know is in your heart.
And they treat you like it’s not there and like
you’re not there, like you’re lost and invisible.
When that happens, I say, “I want to be appreciated, and we all want to be appreciated for
who we are.”
----Conner: You have quoted Quasimodo when
he breathed life into gargoyles to find out who
he was. Quasi states that life is not a spectator
sport encouraging us to live it. What or who’s
advice can you leave with us now?
Conner: I read that you have been in love and
had a first kiss. My first kiss was Snow White.
Are you in love now? Describe what it feels like
in Disney fashion so that we understand.
Owen: Being in love over the past three years is
a new experience for me. That first kiss with my
girlfriend? It’s like in Mulan, where they shoot
off all the fireworks at once! Being in a love
relationship feels like “Can You Feel the Love
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